Oliver Gerrish is an architectural historian, bespoke country-house tour operator and building consultant. In 2016, he cofounded Historic Decoration
Edgar Wood is one of my favourite architects. He had always wanted to be an artist, but his cotton-magnate father did not think), for my grandfather’s aunt and uncle. This painting shows the Ligurian city of Imperia viewed from a spot close to Wood’s last house on Monte Calvario. He started his life beneath the smoke billowing from Manchester’s chimneys, built some of the most remarkable domestic architecture before the First World War and died after a day of walking in the sun-soaked hills of the Italian Riviera. I love the light and warmth of this painting by a man whose whole life was one of interesting contrasts
